”Blog ??? test – test”
- use of web 2.0 tools in communities of practice
Recent reports from Norwegian schools shows an increase in their use of ict-tools in classrooms, but they also show that there are major differences from one school to another, and within schools. In 2004, The Ministry of Education and Research decided to make an attempt to reduce these differences. One of the things they did was to start several projects on ict-use in schools, and among these a project called ”Learning Networks”.
Learning Networks aimed at creating networks among schools in the same area, so they could share their experiences and their resources on ict-and-learning. The networks were facilitated by the nearest teacher-training institute.
In the fall of 2007, the second group of Learning Networks were started, and I was fortunate to be able to follow one of these networks.
During the past years we have seen an increase in regards to online communities, and the software that these communities are built on gives almost unlimitet possibilities when it comes to sharing and collaborating online. The Learning Networks are funded on dialog and sharing, and I aimed at examine how social software could benefit this type of network.
In order to examine this, I started designing a blog for the network members to use. To help them get started I also designed some short assignments for them, to encourage them to use the blog, and to help them get comfortable in the blog-environment. During a two-months period, I tried my best to encourage the networkers to share by using the blog.
My approach to the problem was:
”Is it possible for this ”Learning Network” to function as a community of practice, and will the use of a social software like a blog, contribute to learning and knowledge sharing in the network/community?